This is why we can't have nice things: Microsoft is killing off TechNet subscriptions

[SunnyD]

Just like all you fools abusing the Costco TV Warranty from days of yore.

Microsoft is retiring the TechNet Subscriptions service to focus on growing its free offerings, including evaluation resources through the TechNet Evaluation Center, expert-led learning through the Microsoft Virtual Academy, and community-moderated technical support through the TechNet Forums to better meet the needs of the growing IT professional community.

The last day to purchase a TechNet Subscription through the TechNet Subscriptions website is August 31, 2013. Subscribers may activate purchased subscriptions through September 30, 2013.

 

[child of wonder]

This really sucks. I rely heavily on Technet in my home lab to try out various MS products.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Microsoft is choking itself.

Let them go.......they are too big for their own good anyways.

 

[Chapbass]

This really sucks. I rely heavily on Technet in my home lab to try out various MS products.

Same. This sucks... time to find alternative methods to try out software I guess :\ ...

 

[Soundmanred]

When the number of users evaluating software is greatly outnumbered by the number of people using it to sell keys on Craigslist (and getting reported by people like myself) it's no surprise.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

This really sucks. I rely heavily on Technet in my home lab to try out various MS products.

As do I, and a 180-day eval won't cut it for something like SharePoint. What they're doing is really dumb and the closest MSDN sub to a TechNet Pro sub is over $6K.

 

[Wyndru]

I always thought technet subscription software was time limited also?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I always thought technet subscription software was time limited also?

Not if you're a subscriber. You're thinking of the free, 180-day evals on the TechNet site.

 

[child of wonder]

I always thought technet subscription software was time limited also?

The keys expire when your subscription expires.

Right now I'm on my employer's subscription so I may have to get my own on September 30 so at least I'll have it until Sept 30, 2014.

 

[Phoenix86]

Wow I was just about to buy one too. I would have been pissed to find this out after the fact.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The keys expire when your subscription expires.

Right now I'm on my employer's subscription so I may have to get my own on September 30 so at least I'll have it until Sept 30, 2014.

I don't know if they'll kill existing installs which use those keys or just new activations. I hope it is the latter and not the former. D:

 

[SunnyD]

The keys expire when your subscription expires.

Right now I'm on my employer's subscription so I may have to get my own on September 30 so at least I'll have it until Sept 30, 2014.

No, the keys technically never expire. Your license to use them does.*

*Note: For newer software, this may not be accurate anymore due to newer technical measures.

 

[techs]

I wonder if the Action Pack is also getting canned?

Edit: went to the link and it looks like the Action Pack is not being discontinued.

 

[lxskllr]

The keys expire when your subscription expires.

Right now I'm on my employer's subscription so I may have to get my own on September 30 so at least I'll have it until Sept 30, 2014.

August 31, don't screw it up, or you'll be SOL. You have to activate it by September 30.

 

[ImpulsE69]

They are looking to move away from their past upgrade paths. This will play into those changes. They are looking at daily/weekly updates ala Android. Not exactly sure how they think that will fly in the business sector, but...

 

[techs]

I don't know what's going on at Microsoft but it looks like a clusterf*ck of epic proportions.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I don't know what's going on at Microsoft but it looks like a clusterf*ck of epic proportions.

It's lunacy. At a minimum, they should allow MS certified people to have access to the current TechNet sub model going forward.

 

[techs]

Oh, btw, SunnyD thanks for posting this. :thumbsup: for the post.

 

[Meractik]

WTFFFFFFFFF, I Just renewed my membership June 21st!!!!!! WTF MICROSOFT!

EDIT: wait, does this mean that after that date they will no longer sell them? will I still get my years worth of use out of my current purchased membership? or am I completely SOL???

 

[WT]

Microsoft - taking business advice from HP I see ??

 

[bittermann]

Onward to the cloud!

said nobody...

 

[lxskllr]

WTFFFFFFFFF, I Just renewed my membership June 21st!!!!!! WTF MICROSOFT!

EDIT: wait, does this mean that after that date they will no longer sell them? will I still get my years worth of use out of my current purchased membership? or am I completely SOL???

You'll get your year, but after that it's over.

 

[child of wonder]

I don't know if they'll kill existing installs which use those keys or just new activations. I hope it is the latter and not the former. D:

When I let my personal subscription expire to move to my employer's all existing servers continued to run but I could no longer activate any new systems. This was about 10 months ago.

 

[child of wonder]

August 31, don't screw it up, or you'll be SOL. You have to activate it by September 30.

Thanks, misread that!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

When I let my personal subscription expire to move to my employer's all existing servers continued to run but I could no longer activate any new systems. This was about 10 months ago.

Yeah, I tend to think this is what will happen. I guess I should go ahead and activate a bunch of VMs ahead of time. :awe: